Three Sunshine Coast female rugby league players set to represent Queensland Sapphires
Three of the fastest rising stars in Sunshine Coast rugby league will take the next giant step in their career after earning Queensland call-ups. See what they had to say.
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A trio of Sunshine Coast female rugby league players have reached the glowing heights of Queensland representation after their standout performances for the Falcons in the BMD Premiership competition.
Makayla Henry (Caloundra Sharks), Rhemy Hinckesman (Kawana Dolphins) and Jordan Jackson (Beerwah Bulldogs) have been named in the 20-person Queensland Sapphires squad that will compete in the Women’s National Championships on the Gold Coast from March 21-24.
The competition is hosted and co-ordinated by the NRL, giving players the chance to catch the eye of NRLW talent scouts.
Players selected for the Sapphires cannot have played more than two NRLW games previously and they cannot hold a current NRLW contract or development player contract.
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Falcons head coach Danny Gray said he announced the player selections to his squad following their round one victory against the Brisbane Tigers.
“I got an email when we were on the bus home so I got all the girls’ attention and announced that we had some girls selected in the Sapphires team,” he said.
“The entire bus erupted and everyone was super stoked for them which was very cool for the girls to see that reaction as well.
“Myself, the coaching staff, the girls’ teammates and the club as a whole are all super proud of the three girls so I hope they all go away and have a really good experience.”
See what each player had to say about their exciting selections.
Jordan Jackson
Jackson, 19, has been playing rugby league for six years and is currently studying secondary teaching at university.
The crafty hooker, who was a part of the Falcons under-19 girls team in 2022, said the past few months had been amazing.
“Being with the Falcons has been an unreal experience as I’m learning so much and playing in the round games the past few weeks has been eye-opening,” she said.
Jackson said mixing with and playing against current and former NRLW stars was a major highlight.
“It’s been such a great learning experience to see first hand how they train, their attitudes towards training and games and how they prepare themselves mentally and physically,” she said.
“It’s a great insight for many of us as we’re aspiring to play at the NRLW level, to challenge ourselves and learn alongside those players.”
She said she was excited for the coming days.
“When Danny (Gray) read out my name I was shocked and everyone was cheering really loud but I called my dad straight away and went ‘you wouldn’t believe it’,” she said.
“I’m excited for everything really, the atmosphere, the competition, going into camp, experiencing that level of coaching and playing.
“It’s not something I’ve done too much of in my sporting career so far so I’m just keen to fully immerse myself in it all and be a real sponge.
“I’m super proud of all of the girls that got selected, there’s a few that I know from other teams in the competition too so it should be a really good week.”
Rhemy Hinckesman
After only joining the sport less than 12 months ago, it’s been a whirlwind off-season for the rising star.
Hinckesman joined Kawana in 2023, bringing with her a Queensland and Australian under-18s touch football background.
The 21-year-old slotted in at lock forward for the Dolphins, helping her team to the Open Women’s premiership while also picking up her side’s players player and coaches award at the end of the season.
She said her season with Kawana, the past few months with the Falcons and now the recent Queensland Sapphires selection had been hectic.
“It’s all come very quickly but I’m very grateful for the opportunity as it’s all very exciting and there’s a lot to learn,” she said.
“I’ve been playing touch football since I was nine so I’d like to say I’m up to the speed of it all but there’s been a lot of training and a lot of contact.
“I love training and playing but it’s a big step up from local footy that’s for sure.”
Hinckesman currently shares a house with Falcons co-captain and Brisbane Broncos NRLW star Hayley Maddick, a player that also has an extensive touch football background.
“Hayley has been a big inspiration for me actually coming to contact sport,” Hinckesman said.
“Since I’ve been with the Falcons players like Maddie Studdon has been amazing for my learning and obviously with Holli Wheeler coming into the squad more recently I’ve taken to her and tried to learn as much as I can given we share the same position.”
Hinckesman said she hoped to take plenty away from the tournament.
“I was very shocked when I heard my name as it was a big surprise but I’m very grateful to have the opportunity and it was quite special to tell my family,” she said.
“The learning opportunity is exciting because obviously I haven't been playing for too long so I’m really keen to learn from not only the other girls but also the coaches and staff that will be there.”
Makayla Henry
Better known as ‘Betty’, Henry has shot through the ranks in recent seasons and was lucky enough to score the Falcons first ever BMD try in round one.
The electric outside back grew up playing oztag and rugby 7s before putting a bigger focus on rugby league in 2021.
The 23-year-old said she was proud of her selection.
“I was definitely shocked and surprised and it didn’t really sink in for me just because I wasn’t fully aware of what the selection meant and what the competition was,” she said.
“It’s been a bit of a big jump for me, obviously just coming from the local league into the BMD and now this extra step up into the Queensland Sapphires side.
“It’s a great opportunity, I’m definitely keen and grateful but also quite nervous for it all.”
Henry, who works in childcare, said she felt her game had already grown in the past few months.
“It’s been really great to have those NRLW and high level representative girls in our Falcons squad,” she said.
“They’ve been great to look up to and listen to what they’ve got to say.
“For me to now get the chance to play with a new mix of players, get experience of what the next level is like and learn even more from the coaches is very exciting.”
She also clarified where her well-known nickname originated from.
“It’s not a cool or funny story, mum just started calling me Betty Spaghetti when I was little so that got shortened and Betty which has stuck through family and friends and now people think it’s my real name,” she said.
“People have asked me why my name is set as Makayla in our team group chats which is pretty funny.”
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